Drop-leaf table



Aug. 14, 1951 D. A. WALLANCE 2,

DROP LEAF TABLE Filed April 23, 194

INVENTOR.

Dog c1 Id Wane was HTTOFZNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3'70 0. G. 757) 2 Claims.

The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a drop-leaf table, and more particularly to a drop-leaf table having ground-engaging means arranged in such a manner that they do not obstruct the space beneath the table.

My invention is an improvement in a dropleaf table of the type having a top, a pair of drop-leaves hinged to two opposite parallel edges of the top, and legs pivoted to the underside of the top and rotatable into and out of supporting engagement with the drop-leaves. Such a dropleaf table needs additional ground-engaging means, as the pivoted legs do not furnish a sufficiently stable support. Such additional groundengaging support is customarily provided by a pair of legs, each leg being located proximate a free edge of the table top. This arrangement has the disadvantage that a person seated at the table is unable to place his feet under the table, and thus is prevented from assuming a comfortable position close to the table.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is the provision of an unobstructed space beneath a drop-leaf table of the type described.

A further object of the invention is a dropleaf table having a top and drop-leaves supported by pivoted legs, and additional ground support arranged in such a manner as to be out of the way of a person seated at the table.

Another object of the invention is a dropleaf table having two pairs of pivoted legs and one pair of fixed legs attached to the underside of the top in such a manner that there is a continuous unobstructed space beneath the table top when the pivoted legs are in retracted position.

A further object of my invention is a sturdy drop-leaf table possessing a pleasing appearance in extended as well as in retracted position.

Other objects and advantages of a drop-leaf table in accordance with my invention will become apparent as the description of the same in connection with the appended drawings proceeds.

A drop-leaf table in accordance with my invention generally comprises a table top, a pair of drop-leaves, two pairs of legs pivoted to the table top and rotatable into and out of supporting engagement with the drop-leaves, and fixed legs extending from the underside of the table top proximate the hinge-bearing edges of the top and in substantial alignment with the pivots of the rotatable legs; in this manner the space beneath the table top is entirely cleared from obstructions between the free edges thereof.

The appended drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention. I desire it to be understood, however, that my invention is not limited to the exact embodiment shown therein. In the drawings,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a drop-leaf table in accordance with my invention, with the dropleaves in extended position;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, partly broken away, along line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of my drop-leaf table with the drop-leaves in dropped position.

More particularly, numeral Ii! denotes a table top of generally rectangular outline, having a pair of free edges II and I2, and a pair of edges [3, [4 normal thereto; drop-leaves I5 and it are hinged to the latter edges of the top. To the underside of table top I0 is pivoted a pair of legs 11, ll, each leg having a horizontal portion H3 (or l8) and a vertical portion H (or [9). Each leg thus generally resembles an inverted L; the pivots 20, e. g. pins are located at the free ends of the horizontal portions l8, l8 to connect them to the underside of table top In near the center of edge [3. Legs 2!, 2|, of construction identical with legs 11, II, are pivoted to the underside of table top It near the center of edge M. By swinging each leg outwardly until it engages a stop 22 on the underside of a drop-leaf, drop-leaves l5 and [5 are supported in extended position. Stops 22 are preferably so located that legs IT, IT and 2|, 2! are at an angle of about 45 relative to edges l3, M of the table top.

The center of table top It is additionally supported by fixed ground-engaging means 23, which in my preferred embodiment consist of a pair of vertical legs 24, 2 extending beneath table top [0 from near the center of edges l3, l4. For secure attachment of the legs to the table top and for attractive appearance, I prefer to assoclate the legs 24, 24' with a horizontal member 25 which is fastened to the underside of table top II] by screws 26 or similar suitable means. Legs 24, 24 and horizontal member 25 together thus generally resemble an inverted U; they may be, and in fact I prefer them to be, integral- The advantage of such an arrangement is best seen in Fig. 5 of the drawings, which shows an uninterrupted free space beneath the table top Ill, unobstructed by legs [1, ll, 2|, 2| and 24, 24. To realize this advantage the ground-engaging unit 23, consisting of spaced legs 24, 24 and horizontal member 25, is arranged in a plane normal to edges l3, l4 passing through the center of the table.

The out-ofthe-way position of the ground-engaging unit 23 is equally advantageous in the extended position of the table (see Fig. 1). --Persons seated along the edges l, I2 of the table top and their drop-leaf continuations, have "comfortable leg room and are not cramped by tablelegs extending beneath an edge intermediate the corners while the remaining legs are. in fixed position relative to the table top.

A great variety of structural materials are suitable for the construction of a drop-leaf table in accordance with my invention. A useful matetop and extension leaves, While the single le'gsand the fixed ground-engaging means may be made of the same material or solid woodor metal, or also plastic material. It will be understood that these materials are only enumerated by way of example, and are by no means the only ones suit 'abl eior the construction of my table.

Having thus fully described my invention, I

claim:

1. A drop-leaf table comprising a top, a pair of drop-leaves hinged to said top at two opposite edges of said top, two pairsof' movable legs rotat able into and out of supporting engagement with said drop-leaves, two pairs of pivot means for connecting said movable legs to-and" beneath said top in the proximity of said edges, and a pair 0 fixed legs for additionally supporting said top, said fixed legs being spaced from each other sufficiently to accommodate the feet of a person seated at a free edge of said table, each of said fixed legs being positioned beneath said top besaid drop-leaves and having the general shape of an inverted L, two pairs of pivot pins for connesting said movable legs to and beneath said top in the proximity of said edges, and a fixed ground-engaging assembly for additionally supporting said top, said assembly having the general shape of an inverted U, the horizontal porrial is plywood for the construction of' the table t tion of said assembly being fixed to and beneath said top in the center region of said top on a line REFERENCES orrEn The following references are of recordgin the file of this patent:

V UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date! 260,665 Condon V July 4*, 1882 945,955 Johnson. .i J an. I1, 1910 Gallamore' July 28, I936 

